Rep. Regan Deering

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Makes changes concerning the taxes due under the Act on estates that contain qualified farm property. Provides that, for the purposes of calculating the State Death Tax Credit, those estates are subject to an exemption of $6,000,000 (rather than an exclusion amount of $4,000,000), which shall be deducted from the net estate value after the net estate value is computed in accordance with the Act. Provides that the exemption shall be adjusted each year according to the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Makes changes concerning the calculation of the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount for those estates. Provides for a special use valuation to provide that the value of the qualified farm property shall be calculated without regard to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes changes concerning the definition of "qualified heir". Effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the design and color of registration plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. Provides that plates for veterans with disabilities who have been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act shall pay a specified fee (instead of $24). Authorizes the Secretary to suspend or revoke a certificate or the special plates issued to tow truck or wrecker operator upon determining that the person is not lawfully entitled thereto or has made or knowingly permitted any illegal use of the plates or has committed fraud in the registration of vehicles or failed to give notices of transfers. Prohibits a vehicle from being registered in the name of a person who is not an owner or lessee of that vehicle. Requires a vehicle owner seeking to register a vehicle in the State to register that vehicle to a State address. Provides that it is a violation for a person to alter, forge, or counterfeit a license plate or digital license plate. Provides that if no assignable title is available when auctioning a vehicle, the auctioneer or dealer must apply for Illinois title for the purpose of assigning title. Provides that the renewal fee for licenses and permits issued to 18, 19, and 20 year olds is $5. Provides that the Secretary shall issue a meter-exempt decal or device to the parent of a person with a disability who is under 18 years of age and incapable of driving or the legal guardian of a person with a disability incapable of driving. Makes other changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2137 makes a technical amendment to the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995. This bill specifically modifies a section related to the short title of that existing act.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning twice-exceptional children, changes references from "children" to "students" and defines "twice-exceptional student". Provides that in the development of an individualized education program (IEP) or federal Section 504 plan for a twice-exceptional student, if the student's ability or achievement indicates that the student would benefit from advanced academic programs, then those abilities or achievement levels shall be recognized and addressed in the student's IEP or Section 504 plan and be reflected in the individualized services, goals, accommodations, and objectives for the student, while continuing to provide appropriate services and support for the student's disabilities in all educational settings. Sets forth what the services, goals, objectives, accommodations, and best practices for identifying and addressing the educational and related needs of a twice-exceptional student may include. Effective immediately.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow assisted living establishments and supportive living establishments to provide an approved course of training for certified nursing assistants at the establishment, so long as the training meets the requirements of the Nursing Home Care Act and rules adopted by the Department. Sets forth provisions concerning the supervised clinical training portion of the training program. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules requiring that the Health Care Worker Registry include information identifying where an individual received clinical training and may amend specified rules as necessary to implement the certified nursing assistant training program.

Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Provides that when a vacancy occurs in an at-large judgeship of the 6th judicial circuit, the at-large judgeship shall be converted to a resident judgeship for either Champaign County or Macon County, depending on which of those counties the incumbent at-large circuit judge resided in when the incumbent judge was elected. Requires one additional associate judge to be appointed in the 7th circuit. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.

Maddy summaryHR 112 is a resolution that expresses the belief that the Illinois Income Tax Act should not be amended to permit the taxation of retirement income. It advocates against any future changes that would allow the state to tax the income of retirees in Illinois.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a decal to be issued for sickle cell anemia awareness. Provides that a $25 fee for original issuance shall be paid with $10 to the Sickle Cell Anemia License Fund and $15 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Provides that a $25 fee for renewal shall be paid with $23 to the Sickle Cell Anemia License Fund and $2 to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Creates the Sickle Cell Anemia License Fund, from which all money shall be paid as grants to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning the payment of nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers, makes changes to defined term, removes jurisdictional provisions, and provides that, for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers owned and operated by (instead of subject to) a unit of local government, a rate shall be paid that is equal to the rate established or approved by the governing body of the unit of local government providing the ground ambulance service. Establishes a rate of pay for nonparticipating ground ambulance service providers that are not owned and operated by (instead of subject to the jurisdiction of) a unit of local government. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act. Replaces provisions concerning coverage for emergency transportation by ambulance with provisions concerning coverage for ground ambulance service.